Work, investment & study visas
D-7 Intra-Company Transfer Visa Requirements and Documents — 1 Year at the Head Office, Invitation Procedure by Branch or Liaison Office
D-7 (Intra-Company Transfer) is the status of stay for executives, managers and specialists who have worked for 1 year or more at the head office of a foreign company and are dispatched as essential specialists to its affiliate, subsidiary, branch, liaison office or similar office in Korea (those eligible for corporate investor D-8 status are excluded). Routine clerical staff and skilled manual workers are not eligible. The documents to prepare and the work that can be done differ depending on whether the establishment in Korea is a branch or a liaison office, so first match the transferee's actual duties with the form of establishment.
Procedure
1. Identify the type — D-7-1 and D-7-2
D-7-1 applies where a foreign company sends head office personnel to its branch or liaison office in Korea. D-7-2 applies where a Korean listed corporation or similar company brings to its head office in Korea a foreigner who has been working at its overseas branch (investment of at least USD 500,000).
2. Check the transferee's eligibility
The person must be an executive, manager or specialist who has worked at the head office or another office of the company for 1 year or more. For a national key industry, or for the Korean branch of a foreign company that has brought in operating funds of at least USD 500,000, the 1-year work requirement may be waived.
3. Match the form of establishment in Korea with the scope of work
A liaison office receives only a unique identification number and cannot carry out commercial activities, so only personnel suited to market research and liaison work can be dispatched to it. A branch can carry out commercial activities after it completes the report of establishment with a foreign exchange bank, registration and business registration.
4. Apply for the Confirmation of Visa Issuance
The place of business in Korea acts as the inviter and applies for the Confirmation of Visa Issuance through Hi Korea or at the competent immigration office. Use the statement of reasons for invitation and the utilization plan to explain specifically why this person must be dispatched.
5. Foreigner registration after entry and accompanying family
Complete foreigner registration within 90 days after entry. The spouse and minor children can stay with the transferee under the Dependent Family (F-3) status.
Required documents
- Application for Confirmation of Visa Issuance, copy of passport, ID photo
- Assignment order from the head office, certificate of employment and career at the head office (confirming 1 year or more of work)
- Branch in Korea: report of establishment of a branch filed with a foreign exchange bank, certificate of registered matters of the corporation, business registration certificate
- Liaison office in Korea: report of establishment of a liaison office, unique identification number certificate
- Record of operating funds brought in (certificate of purchase of foreign exchange, etc., if applicable)
- Statement of reasons for invitation and personnel utilization plan
- For accompanying family: documents proving the family relationship (translated and authenticated copies)
Fees
The scope of documents for a Confirmation of Visa Issuance application differs with the form of establishment in Korea and whether family members accompany the transferee. Agency fees in the industry are around several hundred thousand won, and we review the number of transferees and the scope of documents and inform you of the fee after a consultation.
Legal basis and review date
- Enforcement Decree of the Immigration Act, attached Table 1-2
- Immigration Act, Article 9
- Immigration Act, Article 31
Check these first
- If the form of establishment in Korea (branch or liaison office) and the transferee's actual duties do not match, it becomes a ground for refusal, so settle the scope of work before applying.
Frequently asked questions
How many years must I work at the head office to get a D-7 visa?
Can a transferee also be dispatched to a liaison office?
Can any employee get a D-7?
Can the transferee's family come with them?
In what case is D-7-2 granted?
Contact us
Hwang Yunsang Administrative Office in Songdo, Incheon prepares and submits administrative documents and explains the procedure. If your situation is similar, send us a message.
📍 2697, 26F POSCO Tower-Songdo, 165 Convensia-daero, Yeonsu-gu, Incheon, Republic of Korea · 📞 010-3374-2687 · 🌐 hwangadmin.com
This guide is general information based on public sources. Requirements, documents and deadlines differ by case and by the competent agency, so please confirm them before you proceed.